Katherine Childers

Katherine Elizabeth Childers entered heaven’s gate on Tuesday morning, January 25th, 2022, in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Katherine Elizabeth Magnino was born to Pete Joseph and Ester (Baber) Magnino on August 5, 1930. She was born at the “Home Place” which was built by her Italian immigrant grandparents, Antonio Martin Magnino and Catherina (Calico) Magnino. This home was located near Shawnee Lake in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The area now bears the name Magnino Road.

As a child Katherine attended Pink Schools. Her parents later bought a farm between Tecumseh and Earlsboro and she and her brothers and sisters attended Earlsboro Schools. She was saved and baptized at an early age during a revival in Tecumseh. On October 9, 1948 she married James “Dub” Childers in Tecumseh, Oklahoma. They shared 64 years of marriage before Dub passed away in September 2012.

Katherine and Dub first made their home in Oklahoma City where Dub was employed with the City of Oklahoma City. They soon moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma where they lived until March 1952. Dub joined the Marines and they relocated to California. Katherine took a bus ride to Vallejo, California to join her husband at Mare Island. They lived in California until March 1954 when Dub was honorably discharged from the Marines.

When the left California they headed home to Shawnee, Oklahoma and live there until 1959 when they moved to Seminole. They became members of First Baptist Church and faithfully served their church in many capacities. Katherine was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church for over 60 years. Katherine served as WMU Director, G.A. Director, Sunday School teach for Youth and Adults as well as Department Director for Adults, and was a devoted Deacon’s wife. She taught in Vacation Bible School, Training Union, and was always a willing volunteer. She and Dub helped plan trips and activities for their Senior Citizen group at church and participated in Meals on Wheels delivery. She loved to host “socials” at their house for her Sunday School Department.

Katherine was a stay at home mom and served as homeroom mother when her children were in school. Later she worked at Newton Walls, the Vogue, and The Silk Purse. She sold Avon for more than 30 years.

For the past 7 years Katherine has made her home at Avonlea Cottage. She enjoyed visiting with her friends, playing Bingo, and doing crafts.

Katherine is survived by her daughters Carolyn Green and her husband John, and Janet Childers, and her sons Jerry Childers and his wife Kathy, and Ken Childers and his special friend Lisa Martin, all of Seminole. She is also survived by her sister Ester Lue Bryant and her husband Jerry of Shawnee, OK, and her brother Pete “Bud” Magnino and his wife Donna of Cleveland, Ohio. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brandy and Jeremy Miner, Nick Upton, Christopher and Hannah Dye, Jared and Jamie Childers, Amy and Colin Wilson, Scott and Mia Childers, Justin and Alana Childers, Randa and Brook Boggs, Tyler and Zoe Childers, Katrina and Blake Warneke, Whitney Sewell, Matt and Kaliegh Green. Great grandchildren Haley and Beau Staley, Cadey Riddle, Blake Presley, Mylan and Zahra Childers, Dallas, Logan, and Joshua Dye, Aysnn, Aydnn, and Avery Boggs, Tritten, Desmond, and Robin Childers, Oliver, Jameson, and Riley Warneke, Lincoln and Oakley Green, Sam Mandelkow, and Henry and Remy Sewell, and Johnny and Sylver Miner. Also two great-great grandchildren, Stella and Major Staley. She is survived by sisters-in-law, Deanie Isaacs, Dolores Prewett and her husband Tony, Pat Bowden, Ellen Childers, and brother-in-law, Joe David Childers, and Ralph Limke. Katherine has a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friend who also survive her.

Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Ester Magnino, her in-laws, Jim and Effie (Epperson)

Childers, her husband, James “Dub” Childers, her sister and brother-in-law, Christina and Johnny Watson, her brother and sister-in-law, A.J. and Lola Magnino and several of her Childers brothers and sisters-in-law, and her spoiled Chihuahua, Button.

Katherine’s Celebration of Life will be at First Baptist Church, 420 Reid Street, in Seminole, Oklahoma with Dr. Doug Melton officiating. Service will be on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Dub.

Casket bearers will be her grandsons, Nick Upton, Chris Dye, Jared Childers, Scott Childers, Justin Childers, and Tyler Childers, and great grandsons Mylan Childers, and Blake Presley.

Honorary Bearers will be her granddaughters, Brandy Miner, Amy Wilson, Randa Boggs, Katrina Warneke, and great granddaughters Haley Staley, Cadey Riddle, Zahra Childers, Avery Boggs, and great grandsons Aysnn and Aydnn Boggs.

Casket will open for viewing at Swearingen Funeral Home on Thursday from 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 7 P.M. It will be open at First Baptist Church on Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until 1:30. The casket will not be open for her service.